by Ebele Ofodile
Hundreds of residents of Lilu community in Ihiala Council of Anambra State yesterday converged on the Anambra Government House, pleading for urgent intervention following a spate of violent attacks that have left at least 20 of their kinsmen dead.
The delegation, which included youths, elderly men, and women, presented a solemn front, emphasizing the urgency of their appeal. Their spokesperson, Emeka, said the group had to halt the burial of two victims after learning that two others, who were critically injured in last Sunday’s attack, had died while receiving treatment.
Emeka told the Secretary to the State Government, Solo Chukwulobelu, that the attacks on Lilu began several years ago, claiming 11 lives in an earlier incident, and nine more in the recent massacre. He added that some victims were abducted and reportedly intended for ritual sacrifice.
The community lamented that about 85 percent of its residents now live in exile in neighboring areas. Emeka noted that no household remains untouched, and anyone who speaks out risks being killed the following day.
The traditional ruler, Igwe Godson Onyediri, described the recent attack as sacrilegious and inhuman, highlighting the brutal murder and decapitation of the wife of Venerable Gabriel Obiesie, along with the destruction of St Andrew’s Anglican Church, its parsonage, and other property.
Chukwulobelu, while acknowledging the community’s peaceful conduct, assured them that Governor Chukwuma Soludo is aware of their plight and actively pursuing lasting peace in Lilu and other affected areas. He collected the placards carried by the delegation, which bore messages such as ‘Soludo rescue us’ and ‘Lilu is on the verge of extinction,’ promising to present their grievances to the governor later in the day.
The community’s visit underscores the rising concern over insecurity in parts of Anambra State and the urgent need for state intervention to prevent further loss of life and property.
